For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [An allusion to the merging of the tabernacle into the temple of Solomon. As the Spirit of God dwelt in the frail tent during the pilgrimage in the... [ Continue Reading ]
For verily in this we groan [Romans 7:24; Romans 8:23], _longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:_... [ Continue Reading ]
if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.... [ Continue Reading ]
For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. [The apostle here expresses two wishes, suited to either contingency which confronted him. If he survived till t... [ Continue Reading ]
Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit. [God designed man for such superinvestment, and hence placed in him the longing or groaning for its accomplishment. As an infallible guarantee that the longing should be satisfied, he has given to the rede... [ Continue Reading ]
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
(for we walk by faith, not by sight);... [ Continue Reading ]
we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. [The soul has two homes, a bodily and a spiritual, and the latter is preferable; but the latter is not attained before the resurrection day. In the state between death and resurrection,... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.... [ Continue Reading ]
For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [Paul's aspirations caused no laxity as to duty. He tried to so live as to please Christ now, and also when summoned... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. [Knowing therefore what reason there is to fear displeasing God, we do not court his displeasure by abandoning our ministry because men misjudge... [ Continue Reading ]
We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion [literally a "starting-point," or, in warfare, "a base of operations"] _of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart_. [In thus speaking of his manifest... [ Continue Reading ]
For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you. [Paul could not appeal to the approval of his character in the sight of God without bringing to his own mind and the mind of his readers the striking difference between the manifestations of divine... [ Continue Reading ]
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;... [ Continue Reading ]
and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again. [Paul's life was devoted to Christ, and to man for Christ's sake. When tempted to swerve from either of these services, Christ's love for him confined him within the... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. [By his spiritual participation in the death and resurrection of Christ, Paul had become a regenerated man, and as such he refused to judge or look upon men after that carnal, superf... [ Continue Reading ]
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;... [ Continue Reading ]
to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Christ's love, I say, constrains me to sacrifice for men, and to persuade them when they grossly misconstrue me, and to seek reconcil... [ Continue Reading ]
We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. [Wherefore, I have no choice in the matter, but must meet enmity with persuasion and an effort at reconciliation; for if men attack me I am not a free and independent man, but an ambassador to... [ Continue Reading ]